Environmental and health impacts of February 14, 2014 radiation release from the nation's only deep geologic nuclear waste repository

Thakur, P.; Lemons, B. G.; Ballard, S.; Hardy, Robert

doi:10.1016/j.jenvrad.2015.03.034

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 9 publications

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“…The long-lived, highly radiotoxic transuranic elements, i.e., neptunium, plutonium, americium, and curium, as well as some lanthanide fission products, i.e., 155 Eu, are a major environmental concern. They are man-made elements or nuclides, resulting from nuclear processes that have been or will be introduced into the biosphere during geologic disposal, nuclear accidents, and in nuclear weapons fallout. − The progressively widespread use of lanthanides in technological devices and as medical imaging agents also increases possibilities of contamination of the environment . Additionally, some trivalent lanthanides/actinides exhibit similar size and coordination geometry to Ca 2+ , which allows these elements to follow Ca 2+ in biological systems, e.g., by incorporation into bones as shown by Holliday et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of the Interaction of Eu³⁺with Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitates using TRLFS

Johnstone

Hofmann

Cherkouk

et al. 2016

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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The microbial induced biomineralization of calcium carbonate using the ureolytic bacterium Sporosarcina pasteurii in the presence of trivalent europium, a substitute for trivalent actinides, was investigated by time-resolved laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TRLFS) and a variety of physicochemical techniques. Results showed that the bacterial-driven hydrolysis of urea provides favorable conditions for CaCO precipitation and Eu uptake due to subsequent increases in NH and pH in the local environment. Precipitate morphologies were characteristic of biogenically formed CaCO and consistent with the respective mineral phase compositions. The formation of vaterite with some calcite was observed after 1 day, calcite with some vaterite after 1 week, and pure calcite after 2 weeks. The presence of organic material associated with the mineral was also identified and quantified. TRLFS was used to track the interaction and speciation of Eu as a molecular probe with the mineral as a function of time. Initially, Eu is incorporated into the vaterite phase, while during CaCO phase transformation Eu speciation changes resulting in several species incorporated in the calcite phase either substituting at the Ca site or in a previously unidentified, low-symmetry site. Comparison of the biogenic precipitates to an abiotic sample shows mineral origin can affect Eu speciation within the mineral.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study of the Interaction of Eu³⁺with Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitates using TRLFS

Johnstone

Hofmann

Cherkouk

et al. 2016

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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Effect of soil properties on radioactivity concentrations and dose assessment

González-Delgado

Thakur

2022

J Radioanal Nucl Chem

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Ongoing environmental monitoring and assessment of the long-term impacts of the February 2014 radiological release from the waste isolation pilot plant

Thakur

Runyon²

2018

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Three years ago, the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) experienced its first minor accident involving a radiological release. Late in the evening on February 14, 2014, a waste container in the repository underwent a chemical reaction that caused the container to overheat and breach, releasing its contents into the underground. Following a lengthy recovery process, the facility recently resumed waste disposal operations. The accident released significant levels of radioactivity into the disposal room and adjacent exhaust drifts, and although no one was present in the underground at the time of the release, a total of 22 workers tested positive for very low level of radiation, presumably from some of the radioactive material that was released above ground through a small leak in the HEPA filtration system. The dominant radionuclides released were Am andPu in a ratio that matched the content of the drum from Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) that was eventually identified as the breached container. From the air particulate monitoring and plume modeling, it was concluded that the dose, at the nearest location accessible to the general public, from this radiation release event would have been less than 0.01 mSv (< 1 mrem/year). This level is well below the 0.1 mSv/year (10 mrem/year) regulatory limit for DOE facilities established by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).While no long-term impacts to public health or the environment are expected as a result of the WIPP radiation release, the limited ventilation and residual contamination levels in the underground are still a concern and pose a major challenge for the full recovery of WIPP. This article provides an up-to-date overview of environmental monitoring results through the WIPP recovery and an estimate of the long-term impacts of the accident on the natural and human environment.

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Environmental and health impacts of February 14, 2014 radiation release from the nation's only deep geologic nuclear waste repository

Cited by 5 publications

References 9 publications

Study of the Interaction of Eu³⁺with Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitates using TRLFS

Study of the Interaction of Eu³⁺with Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitates using TRLFS

Effect of soil properties on radioactivity concentrations and dose assessment

Ongoing environmental monitoring and assessment of the long-term impacts of the February 2014 radiological release from the waste isolation pilot plant

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Environmental and health impacts of February 14, 2014 radiation release from the nation's only deep geologic nuclear waste repository

Cited by 5 publications

References 9 publications

Study of the Interaction of Eu3+with Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitates using TRLFS

Study of the Interaction of Eu3+with Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitates using TRLFS

Effect of soil properties on radioactivity concentrations and dose assessment

Ongoing environmental monitoring and assessment of the long-term impacts of the February 2014 radiological release from the waste isolation pilot plant

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Product

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Study of the Interaction of Eu³⁺with Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitates using TRLFS

Study of the Interaction of Eu³⁺with Microbiologically Induced Calcium Carbonate Precipitates using TRLFS